Enthusiasts are eager to get their hands on Windows 8, even in unfinished form

We
reported yesterday that Microsoft made its highly anticipated next generation
operating system, Windows 8, available
to the public. The Windows 8 Developer Preview is available in three
versions:

Windows Developer
Preview with developer tools (x64)

Windows
Developer Preview (x64)

Windows
Developer Preview (x86)

AllThingsD is now reporting that 500,000 copies of the
Windows 8 Developer Preview have been downloaded since last night. “We still
have a long way to go with Windows 8,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “Our
approach to these new opportunities is centered in Windows. It’s not about
doing something else. It’s about broadly re-imagining Windows.”